10th Anniversary Of New York State’s Clean Indoor Air Act

Ten years ago today New York State passed the law banning smoking in most indoor public places like restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, taverns and bingo halls. Since the Clean Indoor Air Act was initiated Governor Cuomo says the health benefits for New Yorkers have increased greatly while exposure to second hand smoke has decreased.

In the first year alone, there were approximately 38,000 fewer hospital admissions for heart attacks and the number of high school students exposed to cigarette smoke decreased by at least one third in the first seven years.

Before the law took effect in 2003, fewer than 50% of restaurants and 11% of bars were smoke-free. This year 100% of restaurants and 99.4% of bars were compliant and smoke-free.

This year the Governor plans to expand on the law by including state parks and historic sites. Smoke-free state park areas will now include swimming beaches, pavilions and picnic shelters, developed athletic facilities, outdoor seating areas near food and beverage concessions and within 50 feet of buildings.

In July Coumo signed a bill that will ban smoking at playgrounds where children under 12 are present between sunrise and sunset.